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Turkey and Greece

Biblical Tours of Greece and Turkey

Connect Istanbul, the Seven Churches, Patmos, Athens, Delphi, and Meteora in a combined Turkey and Greece journey.

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Duration13 Days / 12 Nights
Route17 destinations
Group stylePrivate group journey
PlanningCustomizable
Serving groups since 1997Experienced planning for churches, ministries, and faith-based groups
Licensed local operatorCrossroads Travel · TÜRSAB 3716 registration is visible for verification
Reply within 24 hoursWe will respond to your inquiry with practical next steps

For group leaders

01 / BEFORE YOU PLAN

Is This Journey Right for Your Group?

This journey can be shaped around the people you are leading, the pace they need, and the Biblical themes you want to explore together.

See the day-by-day route

A considered fit

Private group journey
  • Church groups
  • Ministry teams
  • Pastor-led journeys
  • Bible study groups
  • Faith-based educational groups
  • Groups needing a custom pace or teaching time

The route can be shaped around your group’s pace and priorities.

Journey at a glance

02 / THE BIG PICTURE

From the Seven Churches to Greece

Explore the itinerary

This combined Turkey and Greece program brings together locations connected with the Seven Churches and the footsteps of St. Paul, followed by a Greek island cruise and mainland visits. The published route includes Istanbul, western Turkey, Patmos, Crete, Santorini, Athens, Delphi, and Meteora.

Duration13 Days / 12 Nights
RouteIstanbul → Athens
Highlights4 ways to experience it

Why this route works

Why This Journey Works for Groups

A combined Turkey and Greece journey for groups seeking to connect the Seven Churches, Patmos, and key Greek settings in one coordinated itinerary.

Two countries, one group plan

Turkey and Greece routing is coordinated as one journey rather than separate travel arrangements.

Revelation in a wider setting

Bring the Seven Churches and Patmos into conversation with Athens, Delphi, Meteora, and the wider Greek route.

Room to shape the journey

Use the combined route as a starting point for your group’s pace, dates, and ministry priorities.

Made for your group

Customize This Journey for Your Church or Ministry

Use this itinerary as a starting point. The final route can be refined during the planning conversation.

  • Group size and preferred travel dates
  • Tour duration and daily pace
  • Hotel category and arrival or departure cities
  • Teaching, worship, and reflection time
  • Accessibility needs and destination priorities
  • Turkey, Greece, or Patmos extensions when appropriate
Discuss your priorities

Day-by-day route

13-Day Journey

Start with the journey overview, then open the complete itinerary for full day details.

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Istanbul

    Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel.
    Overnight
    Istanbul

  2. Day 2

    Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul

    Visit Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar.
    Overnight
    Istanbul

  3. Day 3

    Bosphorus Cruise

    Visit the Spice Bazaar and join a Bosphorus cruise, with the afternoon free in Istanbul.
    Overnight
    Istanbul

  4. Day 4

    Ephesus and Laodicea

    Fly to Izmir and continue to Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John, the House of…
    Overnight
    Pamukkale

Operational overview

Every day at a glance

Use this quick view to understand the rhythm of the route. Open the full itinerary below for the complete Biblical focus, visits, meals, and teaching notes.

  1. Day 1

    Arrival in Istanbul

    Overnight
    Istanbul
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  2. Day 2

    Byzantine and Ottoman Istanbul

    Overnight
    Istanbul
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast and lunch
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  3. Day 3

    Bosphorus Cruise

    Overnight
    Istanbul
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  4. Day 4

    Ephesus and Laodicea

    Overnight
    Pamukkale
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Ephesus and Laodicea among the Seven Churches of Revelation.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  5. Day 5

    Hierapolis, Philadelphia, Sardis and Thyatira

    Overnight
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Philip the Evangelist at Hierapolis and three churches addressed in Revelation.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  6. Day 6

    Pergamon and Smyrna

    Overnight
    Kusadasi
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast and lunch
    Biblical focus
    Pergamon and Smyrna in the letters to the churches of Revelation.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  7. Day 7

    Kusadasi – Patmos – Crete

    Overnight
    On board
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    Patmos and the Revelation received by St. John.
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  8. Day 8

    Crete and Santorini

    Overnight
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch and dinner
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  9. Day 9

    Piraeus and Athens

    Overnight
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  10. Day 10

    Athens and the Acropolis

    Overnight
    Athens
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  11. Day 11

    Delphi to Kalambaka

    Overnight
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  12. Day 12

    Meteora to Athens

    Overnight
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

  13. Day 13

    Departure from Athens

    Overnight
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Travel & timing
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Walking & access
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Meals
    Breakfast
    Biblical focus
    To be confirmed in your group proposal
    Teaching & reflection
    To be confirmed in your group proposal

Approximate timing, walking expectations, meals, overnight location, Biblical focus, and teaching space are shown when currently confirmed. Items marked for confirmation are finalized with your group proposal and group pace/access needs.

Complete itinerary

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer to the hotel.

Arrive in Istanbul and transfer from the airport to your hotel for the beginning of the combined Turkey and Greece journey.

Key visits
Istanbul
Overnight
Istanbul

Visit Topkapi Palace, the Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar.

Explore Istanbul’s historic center with visits to Topkapi Palace, the Roman Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and the Grand Bazaar. The day places the later Biblical route within the city’s Byzantine and Ottoman setting.

Key visits
Topkapi Palace, Hippodrome, Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar
Overnight
Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast and lunch
Hagia Sophia in Istanbul

Visit the Spice Bazaar and join a Bosphorus cruise, with the afternoon free in Istanbul.

Visit the Spice Bazaar, then join a Bosphorus boat excursion for views of Ottoman palaces, the bridge, citadels, historic mansions, and both shores of the strait. The afternoon remains free in Istanbul.

Key visits
Spice Bazaar, Bosphorus
Overnight
Istanbul
Meals
Breakfast

Fly to Izmir and continue to Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John, the House of the Virgin Mary, and Laodicea.

Transfer to Istanbul Airport and fly to Izmir. Continue to Ephesus, the Basilica of St. John, and the House of the Virgin Mary, then travel onward to Laodicea before the overnight stay in Pamukkale.

Biblical focus
Ephesus and Laodicea among the Seven Churches of Revelation.
Key visits
Ephesus, Basilica of St. John, House of the Virgin Mary, Laodicea
Overnight
Pamukkale
Meals
Lunch and dinner

Visit Hierapolis and Pamukkale, then continue through Philadelphia, Sardis, and Thyatira.

Visit Hierapolis and the travertine terraces of Pamukkale, then continue to Philadelphia and Sardis. The route brings together the remains of early Christian communities and the Seven Churches of Revelation.

Biblical focus
Philip the Evangelist at Hierapolis and three churches addressed in Revelation.
Key visits
Hierapolis, Pamukkale, Philadelphia, Sardis, Thyatira
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Visit Pergamon, its Red Basilica and Acropolis, then continue to Smyrna and St. Polycarp Church.

Travel to Pergamon and visit the Acropolis and Red Basilica. After lunch, continue to Smyrna in Izmir, visit St. Polycarp Church, and finish in Kusadasi.

Biblical focus
Pergamon and Smyrna in the letters to the churches of Revelation.
Key visits
Pergamon, Red Basilica, Acropolis, Smyrna, St. Polycarp Church
Overnight
Kusadasi
Meals
Breakfast and lunch

Embark in Kusadasi and visit Patmos before sailing toward Crete.

Transfer to Kusadasi port and embark on the Greek island cruise. The first port of call is Patmos, the island associated with St. John’s exile and the receiving of the Revelation; visit the Monastery of St.

John and the Grotto of the Apocalypse before sailing toward Crete.

Biblical focus
Patmos and the Revelation received by St. John.
Key visits
Patmos, Monastery of St. John, Grotto of the Apocalypse
Overnight
On board
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Call at Heraklion in Crete and continue to Santorini during the Greek island cruise.

Arrive at Heraklion in Crete, then continue by cruise to Santorini. Spend the afternoon and evening in Santorini before sailing overnight toward Athens.

Key visits
Heraklion, Santorini
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Disembark at Piraeus and transfer to the hotel in Athens.

Arrive at Piraeus and disembark after breakfast. Meet the local representative and transfer to your Athens hotel.

Key visits
Piraeus, Athens
Meals
Breakfast

Explore central Athens and the Acropolis, including the Parthenon, Erechtheion, and Propylaea.

Tour central Athens and the Acropolis. The day includes the Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea, the Temple of Olympian Zeus, the Panathenaic Stadium, Constitution Square, and the city’s principal civic landmarks.

Key visits
Acropolis, Parthenon, Erechtheion, Propylaea
Overnight
Athens
Meals
Breakfast

Travel through central Greece to Delphi, visit the archaeological site, and continue to Kalambaka.

Travel through Thebes, Levadia, and Arachova to Delphi. Visit the archaeological site, then continue through central Greece to Kalambaka for the overnight stay.

Key visits
Delphi, Kalambaka

Visit the monasteries of Meteora and return to Athens via Thermopylae.

Visit the monasteries of Meteora, set above the surrounding landscape on dramatic rock formations. Return to Athens through Trikala, Lamia, and Thermopylae, with a short stop at the Leonidas monument.

Key visits
Meteora, Thermopylae, Athens

Transfer to Athens International Airport for departure.

Transfer to Athens International Airport for the departure flight. Other guide languages are noted as available on request for groups.

Key visits
Athens
Meals
Breakfast

Your group, your pace

Want this route shaped around your church?

Request This Itinerary

Planning clarity

Planning Information

Your proposal is prepared around your group size, travel dates, preferred hotel category, route duration, and requested services.

Group price guide

Travel together with clarity and care.

Transparent pricing and thoughtful planning so your group can focus on the journey that truly matters.

Tiered group pricing

From $3,971 per person

Based on 9–10 travellers

Price basisPer personGroup size 9–10 tier
Planning statusCurrent planning pricePublished planning prices remain in effect until Travel Biblical updates this catalog.
Line itemsIncluded & separateIncluded: Airport transfers on arrival and departure · Domestic flight ticket from Istanbul to Izmir (as listed… Separate: International flights · Gratuities for tour staff
Displayed per-person group pricing
Group sizePer person
2 travellers$4,719 per person
3 travellers$4,389 per person
4 travellers$4,230 per person
5–6 travellers$4,153 per person
7–8 travellers$4,043 per person
9–10 travellers$3,971 per person
Request This Itinerary

Pricing clarity: No unlisted mandatory charges are added after your proposal is confirmed. Optional upgrades are listed separately in the itinerary.

Typically Included

  • Airport transfers on arrival and departure
  • Domestic flight ticket from Istanbul to Izmir (as listed for this published route)
  • Accommodation in double occupancy at 4-star class hotels (single supplement applies; final hotels confirmed in your proposal)
  • Cruise from Turkey to Greece with full-board accommodation in an inside IB cabin standard (upgrades available at extra cost)
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary (B breakfast, L lunch, D dinner)
  • Entrance fees to the sites listed in the itinerary
  • Transportation in air-conditioned, non-smoking vehicles
  • English-speaking official tour guide
  • Cruise port tax as published for this route (amount confirmed in your proposal)

Typically Not Included

  • International flights
  • Gratuities for tour staff
  • Beverages
  • Personal expenses
  • Any item not listed as included in your group proposal

Hotel category, flights, and the final inclusion list are confirmed in your group proposal.

Route and destinations

Follow the Journey

Starts IstanbulEnds Athens

This 13-day route starts in Istanbul and ends in Athens. The complete destination order is shown below and can be refined during group planning.

Istanbul → Ephesus → Laodicea → Pamukkale and Hierapolis → Philadelphia → Sardis → Thyatira → Pergamon → Smyrna → Kusadasi → Patmos → Crete → Santorini → Athens → Delphi → Kalambaka and Meteora → Athens

Biblical Tours of Greece and Turkey route mapIllustrated route map with numbered stops following the published itinerary order.TRAVEL BIBLICAL · ROUTE OVERVIEWNUMBERED STOPS FOLLOW THE ITINERARYTURKEYGREECE01Istanbul02Ephesus03Laodicea04Pamukkale05Philadelphia06Sardis07Thyatira08Pergamon09Smyrna10Kusadasi11Patmos12Crete13Santorini14Athens15Delphi16Kalambaka17Athens
Main routeBiblical or historical siteOvernight or base
Published route map for Biblical Tours of Greece and Turkey. Use the ordered route and day-by-day itinerary for the full sequence.

Journey sequence

  1. Istanbul
  2. Ephesus
  3. Laodicea
  4. Pamukkale and Hierapolis
  5. Philadelphia
  6. Sardis
  7. Thyatira
  8. Pergamon
  9. Smyrna
  10. Kusadasi
  11. Patmos
  12. Crete
  13. Santorini
  14. Athens
  15. Delphi
  16. Kalambaka and Meteora
  17. Athens

Frequently asked questions

Questions Before You Plan

Yes. The current overview states that the tour can operate privately for groups on requested dates outside the listed departures.

The current itinerary states that other languages are available on request for groups.

The current inclusion list specifies full-board cruise accommodation in a standard inside cabin, with upgrades available at additional cost.

Questions about this route?

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Send us the question that is on your mind. You do not need to have dates or a final group size yet.

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Plan your group journey

Tell Us About the Group You Are Leading

Share your group size and what you would like this journey to accomplish. We will reply with practical next steps and ask about timing by email.

  1. 1Share your group outline

    Tell us your estimated group size and what you need help planning.

  2. 2Receive an initial itinerary

    We will review the route and prepare practical next steps.

  3. 3Refine the journey together

    Work with a local specialist to align the journey with your group.

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